Signaling apparatus



Aug} 14, 1923;

c. J. CAMPBELL SIGNALING APPARATUS Fil ed March 18,- 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 14-, 1923.

* barren srarss CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

srenariine arreaarus.

Application filed March 18, 1920. Serial No. 366,931.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, COLIN J. CAMPBELL,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates more particularly to a class of apparatus adapted to be used in conjunction with vehicles.

My invention has for its object primarily to provide an apparatus designed to be employed'on an automobile, autotruclr or other vehicle for indicating the direction to the right and left in which the vehicle is about to turn and to also indicate when the vehicle is about to be brought to a standstill, and which isof a form serving to enable the signals to be observed either during the day or at night, in orderto avoid the occurrence of accidents by giving timely warnings especially to the occupants of approaching vehicles which may .betravelling toward the vehicle from the rear. The invention resides mainly inthe provision of an upper and lower chamber adapted to be applied to vehicle, the lower chamber having spaced illuminated signals of different colors in the forms of exposure windows with indicia to indicateopposite directions in which the vehicle is about to turn, and the upper chamber having a single illuminated signal of still another color also in the form of an exposure window with indicia to indicate; when the vehicle is at a. standstill. Exteriorly of the lower chamber is an oscillatory pointer adapted to be swung to and from each of the illuminated signals of the lower chainher so that the attention of observers may be directed during day light to the respective signals. Pivoted eXteriorly of the up per chamber is a semaphore which normally curtains the illuminative signal of this chamber for being swung from and in front of the signal so that it may be exposed to view also during daylight. In the lower chamber .may be two lamps, while in the upper chambers may be one lamp, these lamps serving'when lighted to illuminate 'vide in PATENT @FFMZE.

COLIN J. OAI JIPBELL, GENEWARK, NEVI JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD SIGNAL the signals during darkness, and all of the lamps are medium of Other the lower chamb which is posed. in the circuit so that to either of the illuminate preferably lighted through the an electric circuit. ob ects of the invention are to proer 1.11 armature connected to the pointer and interit will be swung d signals of the lower chamber when the circuit is closed; to provide 111 the upper chamber a second armature which is connect when the circuit is closed the semaphore will be moved from in front of the lllunnnated signal of the upper in the semaphore a windo chamber; and to provide w whereby part of the illuminated signal of the upper chamber will be exposed to view semaphore curtains the as a tail light for the vehicl A further ob ect of the when the signal for serving invention is to provide a signaling apparatus of a simple,

efficient and durable construction which suitable size and shape.

be made in any may With these and other objects in view the invention will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this tion 111 which similar characters of specificareference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and will then be p0 claims at the end of the inted out in the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, signaling apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal partly broken away, taken terior of the casing.

of my improved vertical section, through the in Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a detail sectional view taken on the l as well as showing the of a vehicle, and

Fig. 4C is a diagrammatic line 3-3 of Fig.

switch for electri cally operating the signals of as applled to the post of the the apparatus steering wheel view of the eleced to be applied preferably on the rear end ed to the semaphore and interposed In the circuit so that ing 12 may be of a top wall 19 and e each other during daylight.

the partition 22 of the casing is a The signal or window 29 is preferably red other vea steering The casno and size hicle, as 13 ha\ wheel 15 for PllOLl as well as being 1 material, thougn the form trated is substantially rect a front wall 16 i. i r wal all 18,

de walls 20, 2i. The upperiaiul lower chambers 10 and 11 are provided by dividing the interior of the c: v with a transverse pal ition which tones from near the co ial L of L4 wall 17 to the front wall 16 o We c; n In the part of the f ont wall 16 under the partition 22 of the illuminated signals, posed of exposure windo transparent or transluare fittcd in spaced ope inginto the lower cherries" and these windows are pre ferent colors. such as he w blue, while the window order that the signals may be as well as being readily disti are two spaced both coinotherwise provided on the win lows 2d may be indicia 2'? and 23 re the indicia 27 consisting and the indicia L8 consisting of the Right so as to indicate to observer the direction in which the vehicle is about to turn. In the pa rt the front wall 16 above single or third illuminated signal 29 preferably in the form of an exposure window of glass or other transparent or translucent material which is mounted in an opening 30 leading into the upper chamber 11 of the c so that it is distinguishable from the win-- dows or signals #3 and 2%, and on th vs '7 dow is inscribed or otherwise provided indicia as 31, consisting of the word Stop for indicating to an observer when the vehicle is about to be'brought to a standstill.

A. 7 made o:t transparent ma .er their colt. mg may be so provided that the indicia 2? 31 will be free of color or cl iil V the spaced signals 23 and 2 1 may be a the underside of the bridging member 33 and between the leg members34l and of the bracket 32 is a lug 36 which is spaced from the rear wall 17 of the casing 12. Projecting interiorly of the upper chamber 11 from the rear wall'of th casing and at some distance above the partition 22 is bracket 37 which maybe approximately the shape of an inverted L to provi member 38 disposed transversely of the rear .wall as well as providing an inclined depending arm 39. Hanging downwardly from the underside of the transverse memb r 38 of V the bracket 37 in spaced relation to the depending arm 39 is a lug lO which spaced. from the rear wall of the casing. Extending interiorly of the lower chamber 10 of the casing from the front wall 16 and ween i tically disposed partition ll for screening the second one of these signals when the other signal is illuminated, and in the top wall 19 of the casing may be'providec a window -l2 to allow the light from the uper chamber to illuminate a license sign when provided ona vehicle above the ca ing.

On the exterior of the front wall of the casing 12 between the illuminated sig nals 23 and 2% is an oscillatory pointer as L3, which is preferably inthe form of an arrow shaped bar normally arranged in an upright position. Protrudingrightangularly from the bar in spaced proximity to its lower end is a pin or stud l l which is journaled in a bearing provided in the front wall of the casing and this stud is of a length so that 'it protrudes interiorly of the lower chamber 10 of the casing. On the e. w of the stud within the lower chamberis a downwardly disposed link, as so, havin preferably an elongated opening or slot therethrough, while the lower end of the pointer L3 may be weighted, as $8, in order to maintain the pointer normally movable in an upright position between the e p} nals 23 and 21 so that its upper end may be swung toward and from each of these signals. 7 e V Exteriorly of the front vall ltiof the casing and normally curtaining the illuminated signal 29 is a semaphore a9 ads.

ted to be swung upwardly and downr-rardly from and in front of the signal. This seinapho a is preferably in the form of an eloi plate or panel 50 which is normally arranged crosswise of the wall 16 of the Lasing in a fashion o that one of its ends is in front of the signal or window 29, and projecting from part of one face of the panel in spaced proximity to itsother end is a pin or stud 51 which is journaled in bearing in the front wall s that the free end of the stud extends into the upper chamber 11 or the casing. On one end of the stud. 51 teriorly of the upper chamber is a depending 9 the upper end of'an oscillatory armature or link 52 having a circularopenin-g there through, and the'end of the panel 50 contiguous to'the stud 51- is weighted, at 54:, for

serving to cause the other end of the panel to swing. oownwardly when swung upwardly above the signal 29'. On the front wall. or thecasing overthe signal 28 is a protruding fiange, or lug or'bracket, as 55, which serves as a stop for limiting the downward movement of the second end part f the panel 50 so that the panel will be inovably held normally in front of the signal 29, and through this second endpartoi the panel'is an opening, as 56, for exposing a portion of the red signal 29 to serve as a tail light especially during darkness when the apparatus is in use on a vehicle. 1

G11 the'partitio'n 22 and in the lower chamber 100i the casing 12 back oi the signal or window 23 is a lamp 57 while on the partition in the lower chamber and back 01' the signal or window 2 1 is another lamp 58, and also on the partition in the u per charm:

I ber 11 of the casing is a third lamp 60 which is disposed backot the signal or window 29. These lamps are of well known types adapted to be electrically lighted by being interposed in a normally open electric circuit, as 61 This circuit may derive its supply of current from any suitable source, suchas from a battery, as 62, suitably arranged in the vehicle upon which the apparatus is employed. lnterposed in the circuit 61 and held. on the leg members 34 and 35 of the bracket 32 of the jlower chamber 10 of the casing 12 are two magnets, as 63 and 6% which are arranged so that their cores are in saced opposition. I To the lug 36 and to the rear wall 17 of the casing is pivoted, at 65,

electro-conductive bar 66. This armature is thereby suspended between the magnets 63 and 6 1for being attracted'separately to the cores of the magnets when energized, and the armature is ofa length so that its lower-end extends in opposed relation to the lower end of the link 16 oi the pointer 43. Protruding from the armature 66 as well as being movably disposed in the slot 01' the link is a pin 67' so that when each. of the magnets is energized the armature will be swung-to the energized magnet and in turn the pin will cause the link 16 to be, likewise swungfor swinging the pointer 43 toward one of the signalsorwindows 23 and 24C. lnterposed als v in the circuit 61 and held on the arm 39 ofthe bracket 37 in the upper-chamber -11 of the casing 12 is a magnet 68 having its core disposed toward the lug 4100f the bracket, and between this lug and rear wall 17 of thecasing is pivoted, at 69, the upper end, of an armature or electro-magnetic bar 70 adapted ,tobe attractedto the core tthe magnet 68 when energized, and the armature 7 O is of a length so that its lower end is in opposition to the link 52 of the stud 51 of the semaphore or panel 50. Extending from the armature 70 is a pin 71 which ismovably disposed in the opening of the link 52 so that when the net 68 is energized and the armature 70 is swung to the core of the magnet the semaphore or panel 50 ,will be swung upwardly from in front of the signal or window 29 of the casing 12. In order to allow the circuit 61 to be conveniently closed and opened by the chauffeur 01 a vehicle having the signal apparatus applied thereto, a switch, as 72, is interposed in the circuit as well as bemg employed on the post 141: o1"- the steering wheel 15 of the vehicle. This switch may be of any suitable form, but I prefer to use the type of switch as disclosed in my pending application serially numbered 366,930 filed March 18, 1920, and which is provided with a contact, as 75, engageable by movable con-- tacts, as 76, 77, 78, Figs. 3 and 4, adapted to be manually operated separately by the chauffeur of the vehiclefor closing the circuit at intervals, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The electric circuit 61 may consist of any appropriate lay-out of wiring, as occasion requires, the layout, diagrammatically illustrated consisting of a wire 79 leading from one to aninal of the battery 62 to ground, as 80, which may be provided by the casing 12. From the second terminal of the ground 80 leads a wire 81. to the fixed contact of the switch 72. Also from the battery is a wire 82 which leads to binding post 83 provided on the partition 22 of the casing 12, and leading from this binding post is a wire 81 connected to a switch 85 adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the contact 86 of a wire 87 which leads to one pole of the lamp 630 ha"- ing its second pole grounded, as at 89. Connected to the switch 77 is a wire 90 leading to a building post 91 provided on the partition 22 of the casing 12, and connected to the wire 90 is a wire 92 leading to one terminal of the magnet 68 of the upper chamber 11 of the casing, this magnet having its second pole grounded, as at 93. Connected to the switch 76 is a wire 91 which leads to a binding post 95 a ranged on the partition .22 of the casing 12, and to the wire 95 is connected a wire 96 leading to one terminal of the inagnettll and toone pole of the lamp 57 in the lower chamber of the casing. The second terminal of the magnet 6% is grounded, as at 98. and the second pole of the lamp 57 is grounded, as at 99. Leading from the switch 78'is a wire 100 which is connected to a binding post 101 also provided on the partition 22 of the casing 12, and from the binding post 101 is wire 102 leading to one 7 terminal of the magnet 63 which has its second terminal grounded, as at 103. Con- 85 isclosed the travel or the vehlcle \Vlfilllt is desired nected to the wire 102 is a wire which leads toonc poleof the lamp of the lower chamber of the'casing, and the second pole of this la; p isgz'rounded, as at 105. '7

To operate the apparatus to; setting the various signals. required times the switch upon the contact 86, and duri u; to

signal to observers that the vehicle is about to-turn to the riglrt the switch. TS is moved into engagement with the contact 75. The circuit will be closed from the battery 62 over. wire 79, through ground 80, through the engaged contacts 75 and 7.8, over wire 5 100, through the post 101, over wire 10% to nice 66 which in cause the poiz a. 43 to be swung to the signal 23. .Vhen it is desired to signal to observers that the vehicle is about to turn to the left, the switch 76 is closed upon the contact 75, and the circuit .will'be closed from the battery 62 and over wire 79, through ground 80 to and through the contacts '75 and :6, over wire 9-1, through post 95, over wire 96 to and through the magnet 64; andlamp 5?, and thro "1 grounds 80, 98 and 99. The energizing of themagnet 6 1 will a nct to its core the armature 66 for swi the signal 24 indi of the circuit will lig minate this si ial. l vhen i i s indicate to observers that the vehicle is'about to be brough to standstill, the switch 2'? is closed upon the contact-2'5. The circuit will then be closed "from the battery 62 through ground 80, throu 'h contactsfo, 7 '2" o' er wire 90, 92 to and through the magnet '68 and through grounds 80, 93. The armature T0 will by the energizing of the magnet 68 be attracted. to its core for swinging the semaphore {t9 upwardly from in front of the signal 29 and indicia 81 to indicate stopping of the vehicle. Viith the closing of the switch 85 upon the contact 86 the lamp will be lighted by the circuit being closed from the battery 62, over wire 82,

throughpost 83, over wire 8 1, through the contacts 85, 86, over wire 87 and through grounds 80 and 89 for illuminatingthe signal, 29 and indicia 31 as well as for causing the, signal 29 to serve as a tail lightfor the vehicle byt-he red color of this signal being displayed through the opening 56 of the semaphore 49. The lamp 60 also serves when lightedto illuminate the license sign of the vehicle'when arranged over the casing by the rays oi its light passing through the window 4-2' For .useat, night the switch 85 is closed and remains closed, thestog signal being given by the shutter ln the foregoing description, I have bodied the preferred form of my invention butl do not wish to be understood as lir: ing myself thereto as I am aware that modi fications may be made therein without departing from the principle, or sacrificing" any of the advantages of this invention, therefore, reserve to myself the right to make such changes. as fairly fall within the scope thereof. Moreover, in this present application i do not claim the specmc forms oi the casing 12 with the pointer 13 and th seniaphore 49 as these parts are made subject matters of my pending application for a patent, No. 366,929 tiled ltiarch 18, 1920. Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Fatentz- 7 1. In combination with a casinghaving an opening in one wall with an exposure window therein, said exposure window having a legend thereon, a pin journal'edin and extending through said wall, signal elenient fixed to said pin exteriorly of the casand adapted to be swung toward and away from said legend, means to normally bring the signal element at rest in one posi-' tion, and means operablerat will to swing said signal element to another position; said last named means including a crank having one end fixed to said pin within said casing, a normally vertical armature bar pivoted in the casing at its upper end, means pivotally and slidably connecting said'cranl; to the lower end of the armature bar a magnet fixed in the casing for attracting and swing- 111g said armature bar, and a mounting bracket within the casing comprisingan angle-bar having ahorizontal portion to which the armature bar is pivoted, and an inclined portion to which the mag'net is fixed.

2. A casing and signal including a hollow body having a front wall; a removable, rear wall for said body with horizontal partition fixed to and protrudingtherefrom to a point adjacent thei'ront wall and dividing the interior of the body into a l ower chamber and an upper chamber, a second and vertical partition hired to and extending" from the front wall towardsthe rear wall for dividing the lower chamber into two sub-chambers, two signal windows, one in the front wall 'o-feach ofthe sub-chambers, said signal windows being'readily distinguishable, a third signal window distinguishable from the others and disposed in the front wall of the upper chamber of the body, illuminating means for the chamber carried by the horizontal partition, signal members-cooperating With the Windows and pivoted to the front Wall of the body, and electromagnets fixed to the removable rear Wall of the body and having operative connections With the signal members, said operative connections being separable for allowing removal of the rear Wall of the body and separation of theelectromagnets from 10 the signal members.

This specification signed and witnessed this 16th day of March, A. D. 1920.

COLIN J. CAMPBELL. 

